Children's motor development is a crucial aspect that needs to be considered from an early age. Motor skills are a significant activity for humans because they enable humans to achieve their goals and aspirations.
The motor development of early childhood is divided into gross and fine motor skills. Then, what are the characteristics of healthy children based on their motor development stages?
The following article will provide a detailed explanation of what fine motor skills are and the stages of motor development in children aged 0–12 months. Let's take a look!
What Is Motor Development?
Motor development is the process that children go through until they are skilled at moving their limbs, starting from the head, tongue, lips, hands, fingers, and feet.
The baby's motor development skills are divided into gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills include movements that require coordination of a group of large muscles.
This skill thus does not require excessive precision in its implementation. Running, jumping, throwing, and most skills in sports are included as gross motor skills.
Meanwhile, fine motor skills encompass movements that utilize the small muscles in the hands and wrists.
This type of skill is often referred to as a skill that requires hand-eye coordination. Writing, drawing, and playing the piano are examples of such skills.
What Are the Stages of Motor Development in Children Aged 0–12 Months?
Motor development is a process that occurs in stages. At each time, the motor development experienced by children aged 0-12 months is different.
The stages of gross motor development in babies aged 0–12 months and the development of fine motor skills in babies are as follows:
Motor Development in Children Aged 0–3 Months
At the age of 0-3 months, the child's motor development includes approximately:
Gross Motor
Gross motor development in children aged 0–3 months begins with the ability to coordinate both eyes.
Then, the baby will also learn to lift his head and look right and left when lying on his stomach or back. Generally, babies can also move their hands and feet when lying on their backs.
Fine Motor
Then, for fine motor skills, children aged 0–3 months often start to move their hands and open their palms.
Well, at this age, children also like to swing or hit objects. At this age, babies learn to follow objects with their eyes and smile at people's faces.
Motor Development of Children Aged 3–6 Months
Then, at the age of 3-6 months, the child's motor development approximately includes:
Gross Motor
Gross motor development in children aged 3–6 months is characterized by the ability to roll.
In the prone position, the child can also lift their head 90 degrees and lift their body slightly with their hands.
Meanwhile, in the supine position, the child often lifts his legs to his mouth. In addition, parents can also help pull both of the baby's hands to a sitting position.
Usually, the little one can support or lift his head in that position.
Fine Motor
Additionally, for fine motor skills, children aged 3–6 months can grasp and move objects from one hand to the other and vice versa.
They can also grab toys with both hands and put objects in their mouths
Children's Motor Development Aged 6–9 Months
Furthermore, at the age of 6–9 months, children's motor development includes:
Gross Motor
The gross motor development in children aged 6–9 months is quite significant.
At this age, children can begin to sit up from a sleeping position without assistance and can also lie on their stomachs and turn over independently. When sitting, babies also enjoy grabbing their toys.
However, there are times when they lose their balance, so it's essential to always supervise your 6-9-month-old baby while they are sitting. In addition, children will also start to crawl because their hand and leg muscles are getting stronger.
Fine Motor
Then, for their fine motor skills, children aged 6–9 months will also have stronger finger muscles.
Therefore, babies can hold, swing, and move small objects, such as bottles and toys.
Usually, they like to put these objects in their mouths. In addition, children can also squeeze objects with a smooth texture.
Motor Development of Children Aged 9–12 Months
After that, at the age of 9–12 months, the child's motor development approximately includes:
Gross Motor
Parents eagerly anticipate gross motor development in children aged 9–12 months.
At this time, your little one can stand alone without help. Then, they also start walking with help.
Additionally, babies can push or pull toys around them and climb stairs with assistance.
Fine Motor
For their fine motor skills, children aged 9–12 months can also do many things.
They can point at objects, put objects in their place, eat with a spoon, and open a book.
Additionally, children enjoy arranging building blocks and scribbling on paper with a pencil.
How to Stimulate Motor Development in Children Aged 0–12 Months?
Well, you can also help develop your little one's motor skills. The way to do this is by training and stimulating their motor skills.
Here are some of the child's motor skills that can be stimulated:
- At the age of 0–3 months, you can start training your little one to lie on their stomach.
- At the age of 6 months, you can start teaching your child to crawl.
- Between the ages of 4 and 7 months, you can begin training your little one to sit.
- Between the ages of 8 and 12 months, you can start teaching your child to stand and walk.
That was an explanation of the stages of gross and fine motor development in children aged 0 to 12 months.
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